Clinometer



Nov. 23, 1954 L. M. LE PERA CLINOMETER Filed March 30, 1953 Lewis M. LePera INVENTOR.

United States Patent CLINOMETER Lewis M. Le Pera, East Paterson, N. .1.

Application March 30, 1953, Serial No. 345,560

2 Qlaims. (Cl. 33215) This invention relates in general to indicating instruments and relates more particularly to an improved form of clinometer.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a clinometer with improved indicating means which includes a movably carried vernier scale for determining minute variations in inclination.

Another object of this invention is to provide a clinometer with an improved type of pointer assembly which, in conjunction with a specific form of indicating dial, will indicate simultaneously inclinations with respect to the horizontal as well as the vertical.

Another object of this invention is to provide pivot means for the pointer of a clinometer which incorporates an overload release mechanism preventing distortion of the pivot s of the pointer assembly.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a vertical elevation of the clinometer;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken substantially along the plane of section line 2-2 of Figure 1 and showing details of the internal construction of the clinometer; and

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the component parts of the pointer in exploded relation.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral indicates generally the base of the instrument provided on its lower face with a pair of coplanar surfaces 12 and intermediate angularly disposed surfaces 14. This construction enables the instrument to be positioned either on flat surfaces or apiculated surfaces, as desired. Rising upwardly from the base is a web 16 formed integrally with both the base and with a substantially cylindrical housing 18 whose back wall 20 is provided with a centrally disposed boss 22 as well as radially disposed bosses 24, one of which is shown in Figure 2, the former threadedly receiving an adjustable pivot seat member 26 and the latter receiving securing means 28 for mounting the graduated dial 30 at an intermediate portion of the housing.

Threadedly engaged on the front peripheral surface of the case or housing is an attaching rim 32 which clampingly secures a transparent face 34 between the rim and the housing, this face being centrally apertured to receive an inner collar 36 of generally annular configura tion whose main portion is received within the aperture and whose circumferential flange 38 bears against the rear surface thereof. The central cylindrical portion 40 of the outer collar is frictionally interfitted within the inner collar and its peripheral flange portion 42 bears against the outer surface of the face to cooperate with the flange of the inner collar in securing the assembly to the face. In this respect, it might be well to note that the engagement between the inner and outer collar is a light sectional fit so that the danger of distorting or applying too much pressure against the pivot pin 44 by adjusting either the previously described seat 26 or the seat 46 carried by the outer collar will be prevented,

2,694,865 Patented Nov. 23, 1954 inasmuch as such overload would force the outer collar outwardly with respect to the inner collar and relieve such overload.

The pivot pin is received within the central boss 48 of the cross assembly 50, the free end of which telescopically and frictionally receive the inner ends of the lower weight member 52, the vertically extending pointer 54 and the horizontally extending pointer 56, each of which, with the exception of the lower assembly is provided with a tapered end portion 58 for the purpose of obtaining accurate reading. The vertical pointer registers with an upper set of graduations on the dial and it will be noted that the graduations are such that this pointer indicates the degree of variation with respect to the horizontal of the surface upon which the base 10 is placed. The horizontally extending pointer 56 cooperates with graduations at corresponding portions of the dial, these graduations being so indexed as to permit reading of information with respect to the vertical on these scales.

The vertical pointer 54 is provided with an arcuate vernier scale 60 corresponding in outer curvature to the inner surface of the annular dial and spaced closely adjacent thereto so that its Vernier graduations may be easily read with respect to the graduations on the dial, this particular construction or Vernier scale being carried by the vertical pointer so as to enable the operator to accurately determine even minute variations of inclination.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A clinometer comprising a base, a housing secured to said base provided with a rear wall and an intermediate graduated dial, a transparent face secured to said housing, a pointer assembly pivotally secured between said face and said back wall in register with the dial for indicating the degree of inclination of the base, said face being provided with a centrally disposed aperture, a pair of interfitting collars engaging opposite sides of said face, a pivot seat adjustably carried by one of said collars, a pivot seat carried by said back wall, said pointer assembly having a pivot pin received at its opposite ends in said seats.

2. A clinometer comprising a base, a housing secured to said base provided with a rear wall and an intermediate graduated dial, a transparent face secured to said housing, a pointer assembly pivotally secured between said face and said back wall in register with the dial for indicating the degree of inclination of the base, said face being provided with a centrally disposed aperture, a pair of interfitting collars engaging opposite sides of said face, a pivot seat adjustably carried by one of said collars, a pivot seat carried by said back wall, said pointer assembly having a pivot pin received at its opposite ends in said seats, said collars being slidably interfitted and the outer collar carrying said seat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 839,662 Smith Dec. 25, 1906 1,430,535 Cocayne Oct. 3, 1922 2,534,166 Gierke Dec. 12, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 25,773 Switzerland Feb. 23, 1903 118,862 Australia Aug. 23, 1944 

